This is how to sell a car on Ebay

Paula · 9-3-09, 19:34

Hi Guys,

Just been browsing through the Metro Owners Club forum and came across this.

I don't think that I have ever seen a better advert on Ebay.

Austin Metro Vanden Plas on eBay (end time 10-Sep-09 21:53:58 BST)

Nite

Paula

**clivjoo** · 9-4-09, 2:49

I agree, its a good ad, the sort that draws my attention.
First, the man/woman can spell and hasnt used pne txt wrds 2 sale teh car. And thats important, second, lots of info there, and they have made it clear their intentions as a seller. Good ad, I am almost tempted!

Paula · 9-4-09, 2:57

Morning Clive,

It also tempted me as it's the same colour ( Zircon Blue ) as my first Metro which was a 1983 'A' Reg Austin Metro 1 litre.

But I then remembered that I have it's bigger sister and I must not be greedy ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by clivjoo

I agree, its a good ad, the sort that draws my attention.
First, the man/woman can spell and hasnt used pne txt wrds 2 sale teh car. And thats important, second, lots of info there, and they have made it clear their intentions as a seller. Good ad, I am almost tempted!

**Davidos12** · 9-4-09, 5:36

One thing though the advert needs to start at 99p as who in their right mind would want to pay £350 for an E reg rover metro!!

Paula · 9-4-09, 9:57

Hi Dave,

I would as they go on for ever and do well over 45mpg as long as they are well looked after and maintained.

They are also very easy to service and repair.

That is why you still see loads of them with youngsters and older members of our population driving them.

They are ideal as a first car for young people and are cheap to insure too.

On the Metro Owners Club we have many active members with Metro's that are still going strong.

And I am talking about cars going back to 1980 when they were first introduced.

This car is a version ( Austin ) before they were called Rovers.

In 1990 the Rover Metro was voted " Small Car of the Year" against stiff competition.

We all know that it was an old design but the improvements made it a much nicer car to drive.

The "K" series engine is great and the 5 speed gearbox is much better than the old 4 speed box which did give trouble especially in the MG and MG Metro Turbo versions. I know that myself because my MG Metro had to have an exchange gearbox at 70,000 miles.

They cured the rust problems at the front of the car with the new design ahead of the windscreen but the rear wheel arches, if you did not waxoyl them regularly, would still rust out.

But I have seen MX-6's as late as 1997 models with the same problem.

Both the Metro and our Mazdas are effectively quite old designs and the very latest cars are much improved but IMHO very bland to drive.

As a track car, the Metro GTI is simply awesome and I still blow away many later makes of GTI, with it's legendary handling and go-kart cornering.

Take care

Paula

PS. Of course being an old design from the late 70's, it's crash resistance is not so good as today's cars and that is why it was dropped when sales fell flat after the report came out. The biggest mistake Rover made and (Gee did they make many) was not to introduce an entirely new car around 1995. They always had poor management and that is why Rover went down to a large extent simply because they relied too much on old dated designs.

Recently I was told that our MX-6's are not so hot when it comes to having a crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidos12

One thing though the advert needs to start at 99p as who in their right mind would want to pay £350 for an E reg rover metro!!

**gnomon** · 9-17-09, 16:59

But it got ZERO bids and didn't sell............................

**Davidos12** · 9-17-09, 17:08

Seems i may have been right about the price?

**gnomon** · 9-17-09, 17:38

It was more than just the price, the car may well be a legal runner but wasn’t attractive; fundamentally what some perceive as to be good is clearly not good enough to the great British Internet browsing public as no one placed a bid.

**Davidos12** · 9-18-09, 3:21

I was being diplomatic for a change. Not my cup of tea either, 10 year old box when it went on sale.

**gnomon** · 9-18-09, 3:37

Every one is entilted to a view but no matter how good the prose was in the add you cant polish a t**d!

RJSzynal · 9-18-09, 20:50

I think it was more down to bad luck as with there being many for sale at any one time people tend to look locally for one. Obviously during the limited time this was up on ebay no one from the local area was looking for one.
Gnomon, you start off by saying 'Every one is entilted to a view' but then seem to state that the car is 'a t**d' as if it's a fact. Perhaps you should have made it more clear that this is simply your opinion, you could easily offend someone.
Paula (and many, many other people) love this car and looking at the number sold and the size of the clubs, between the metro and the MX-6 it would seem the MX-6 is more of 'a t**d', as you put it.
Some would say the MX-6 is too long, or too conservative in it's styling but it's something that we here in this group love. When it comes to cars there are many different opinions on many different cars, who is to say one is more valid than another?
I kind of went off topic towards the end there, I just got carried away

Robert

**gnomon** · 9-20-09, 8:19

Never intended any offence and apologies for anyone who may feel slighted. I disagree with the title due to the outcome; the thread title implies that the add was a good way to sell a car yet the outcome was quite the opposite i.e. no bids and no sale. Clearly I have no issue with the seller taking a punt to get rid of something they didn't need, making a statement that his add was good seemed premature to me. The car, no matter how many love the marque, was not saleable other views about too many available, locality etc are simply supposition. Moreover, if you are going to say something in a forum, we are entitled to respond and we all don't have to agree....each to their own.

RJSzynal · 9-20-09, 17:51

Good response

I was very tired when I wrote that so it ended up more aggressive than I meant

Robert